Latching arrangement for ring pull tab of an easy opening container

ABSTRACT

An easy opening container having a pull tab in the form of a ring having a finger opening. The pull tab serves to separate the tear portion from an end closure panel upon upward tilting and pulling on the tab. A wing clip fastened to the end panel and having a pair of wings that are vertically spaced from the end closure panel projects through the finger opening and overlies the ring to thereby latch the tab against upward tilting. The tab is movable by turning and twisting to a position free of the wings so that it may be tilted to separate the tear portion from the panel.

ilnited States ?atent n91 Hougen et al.

May 28, 1974 LATCHING ARRANGEMENT FOR RING PULL TAB OF AN EASY OPENING CONTAINER [75] Inventors: Gary A. Hougen, Palatine; Henry F.

- Kloc, Plainfield, both of Ill.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company Inc.,

New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 285,287

[52] U.S. Cl. 220/54 [51] Int. Cl 865d 17/20 [58] Field of Search 220/54, 48, 47, 29

[56] y Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,604,588 9/l97l Winnick 220/29 3,749,275 7/1973 Smith ct al 220/48 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firrri-John J. Kowalik; Joseph E. Kerwin; William A. Dittman 571 ABSTRACT An easy opening container having a pull tab in the form of a ring having a finger opening. The pull tab serves to separate the tear portionfrom an end closure panel upon upward tilting and pulling on the tab. A wing clip fastened to the end panel and having a pair of wings that are vertically spaced from the end closure panel projects through the finger opening and overlies the ring to thereby latch the tab against upward tilting. The tab is movable byv turning and twistingto a position free of the-wings so that it may be tilted to separate the tear portion from the panel.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures LATCIIING ARRANGEMENT FOR RING PULL TAB OF AN EASY OPENING CONTAINER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to easy opening containers and more particularly to a latching arrangement for an easy opening container which serves to make the container more resistant to the likelihood of a child opening the same.

Easy opening containers of the type with which the present invention is concerned have a tear portion defined by a score line and a pull tab attached to the tear portion for separating the same along the score line to provide a pour opening. The procedure for opening the container is relatively simple so that a child as young as about years of age frequently is capable of opening the container. At this age, it is also possible that a child would tend to consume the contents of the container through the pour opening. This is undesirable because under some circumstances, the container may contain non-consumables such as toxic liquids or ingredients. To prevent this from occurring, the present invention is concerned with providing a latching arrangement to make the container more difficult to open so as to provide a warning that the product contained therein is of toxic nature.

The latching arrangement of the present invention includes a wing clip attached to the container. The

wing clip is accommodated within the finger opening of the pull tab and is provided with the wings which project over the annular ring. By twisting and turning of the pull tab about the rivet connection to the tear portion, the pull tab may be cleared of the wing tip so that it is capable of being tilted upwardly to an operative position for opening the container.

In one form of the invention, the wing clip is attached to a ring-like overcap structure detachably secured to the rim of the container. In another form of the invention, the wing clip is attached directly to the end panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a top plan view of the pull tab latching arrangement embodying the structure of the present invention and attached to an end of an easy opening container.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the container shown in FIG. 1 but showing the pull tab in a pivoted position for releasing the same from the latching arrangement.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view generally along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the pull tab in a different position during the unlatching sequence for releasing the pull tab.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of an embodiment of latching arrangement different from that shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 6 inclusive, there is shown one embodiment of the invention for latching a ring pull arrangement 8 mounted on an easy opening container 9. As shown, the easy opening container 9 includes an end closure 10 having a panel 11 formed with a tear portion I2 defined by a score line 13. The tear portion 12 is of more or less tear drop shape. Attached to the tear portion 12 is a ring pull or pull tab 14. The ring pull I4 is of generally conventional construction and includes a finger grip portion 16 including an annular band 17 defining a finger' opening 18 through which a finger is adapted to be inserted.

The ring pull 14 also includes an attachment tab 19 which receives a rivet 21 formed integral with the panel II at the tear portion 12. Straddling the score line 13 are a pair of fulcrum legs 22-22 about which the pull tab 14 is tilted to exert a force on the rivet 21 and thereby separate the tear portion 12 along the score line 13. After the initial break of the score line 13, an upwardly pulling force is operative to sever the remainder of the score line so that the tear portion 12 is completely detached from the end panel ill to thereby provide a pour opening.

The latching arrangement 8 may be made from plastic and comprises an attachment band 24 having a slot or groove 25 and a lip 26 which seatable over the rim 27 formed by the double seaming of the end closure 11 to the can body as shown for example in FIG. 6. The attachment band 24 is thus detachably mounted on the container 8. Extending radially from the band 24 is a supporting strap 28 to which there is attached the wing clip 29.

The wing clip 29 includes a central attachment portion 30 which may be bonded to or formed integral with'the supporting strap 28. Extending upwardly from the attachment portion 30 are a pair of wings 3l-3l vertically spaced above the end panel 11 so as to be capable of accommodating the thickness of the annular portion 17 of the ring pull I4 therebetween as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Normally, the wings 31-31 overlie diametrically opposite annular portions of the ring 16 so that the pull tab 14 is restrained against upward tilting.

To release the ring pull from the wing clip 29, the pull tab is initially rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise. As viewed in FIG. 2, the ring pull is rotated about the rivet 21 counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow A so that one side of the annular ring 16 is clear of the edge of the right wing 31 as viewed in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the ring pull I4 is tilted slightly as shown so that the underside of the annular portion 17 clears the top of the wing 31. The ring 16 is then rotated clockwise in the direction of the arrow B as viewed in FIG. 4 and tilted to the position shown in FIG. 5. In this position, the opposite annular portion 17 is clear of the opposite wing 31 so that the pull tab 14 is now disposed above the wings 3I-3l of the wing clip 29. The pull tab 14 is then aligned with the tear portion 12 and the pull tab is elevated or inclined so that the tear portion 12 is separated from the panel in the usual manner.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown another embodiment of the invention in which the wing clip 129 is fixedly secured to the end panel II by means of a rivet 121 extending through an attachment portion 130. The wing clip 129 includes a pair of wings 131 vertically spaced above the end panel 11 similarly to the wings 31-31 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 to restrain the pull tab against upward tilting and thereby 3 separation of the tear portion 12 from the end panel 11. The ring pull 14 may be released from latching engagement with the wing clip 129 in the same manner as described in the embodiment of FIGS. l-6 to permit tilting and removal of the tear strip.

What is claimed is:

l. in an easy opening container having a body, an end closure, a seam attaching the end closure to the body and a pull tab having a finger opening defined by an annular portion and attached to a tear strip defined by a score line provided in the end closure, a latching arrangement for resisting tilting of a pull tab in a direction resulting in the tearing of the score line, said latching arrangement comprising a wing clip mounted on said end closure, said wing having a pair of wings projectingthrough said finger opening of said pull tab and overlying said annular portion of said finger grip portion, said wings being arranged so that said pull tab may be turned and twisted to a position overlying said wing clip whereby said pull tab is tiltable to a position for tearing said score line.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said wing clip is mounted on a ring band detachably fastened to said seam.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said band includes a groove for receiving said seam and a lip for seating said band on said seam when the latter is accommodated in said groove.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein a radially extending strap extends inwardly from said band, and said wing clip is mounted on said band.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said wing clip is fastened to said panel of said end closure. 

1. In an easy opening container having a body, an end closure, a seam attaching the end closure to the body and a pull tab having a finger opening defined by an annular portion and attacHed to a tear strip provided in the end closure, a latching arrangement for resisting tilting of a pull tab in a direction resulting in the tearing of the score line, said latching arrangement comprising a wing clip mounted on said end closure, said wing having a pair of wings projecting through said finger opening of said pull tab and overlying said annular portion of said finger grip portion, said wings being arranged so that said pull tab may be turned and twisted to a position overlying said wing clip whereby said pull tab is tiltable to a position for tearing said score line.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said wing clip is mounted on a ring band detachably fastened to said seam.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said band includes a groove for receiving said seam and a lip for seating said band on said seam when the latter is accommodated in said groove.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein a radially extending strap extends inwardly from said band, and said wing clip is mounted on said band.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said wing clip is fastened to said panel of said end closure. 